Founder Fridays: Streamlining Consulting Operations: Bizinta’s Integrated System with Real-Time Reporting and Staffing Tools with Matt Lentzner

Matt is a 20-year expert in Business Management of Professional Services Companies. He has the rare ability to understand both the technical and business sides, mapping one to the other. He took that expertise and built Bizinta (www.bizinta.com) so the system and the business became one.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-lentzner/

Bizinta's Integrated Back-End System for Consultants Matt, the co-founder and CEO of Bizinta, presented a highly integrated back-end system designed for consulting companies. The system was initially created to manage the operations of his former finance and accounting consulting company in Silicon Valley, and it was later spun off as an independent company in 2017. The tool helps companies track their employees' skills, schedules, and billing and generates reports quickly and efficiently. Michael praised the system's ability to streamline operations and reduce silos, giving companies a competitive advantage by allowing them to focus on creative work. Leadership Roles and Software Development Advantages Michael and Matt discussed the advantages of having a background in software development for leadership roles. Matt's experience building systems from the ground up gave him a unique perspective, allowing him to understand and communicate effectively with his team about new features and tools. He also mentioned the advantage of quickly adapting to and implementing new features, giving his company a competitive edge. Furthermore, they discussed the importance of connecting to the development process and profoundly understanding the company's framework and capacity. Consulting Industry Challenges and Opportunities Matt and Michael discussed the challenges and opportunities in the consulting industry. Matt explained the unique difficulties of scaling a consulting business, contrasting it with the relative ease of scaling a product company. They identified a critical point for consulting companies: the founder can no longer personally oversee every aspect of the business due to its size and must expand the team. Michael highlighted a concerning statistic that 52% of Fortune 500 companies from 2000 have either gone bankrupt or been acquired, emphasizing the importance of growth and adaptation for businesses. They agreed on the need for a system to help manage and expand the knowledge of a consulting company to continue providing quality service to larger clients. Bizinta System for Efficient Reporting Michael and Matt discussed the impact of organizations on their communities and the importance of efficient reporting processes. Matt highlighted the advantages of their system, Bizinta, which was built with integration in mind, making it more efficient and effective than other systems. He demonstrated how the system can compare planned schedules with recorded time, enabling organizations to evaluate their performance and make necessary adjustments. Michael agreed and noted the potential for this system to auto staff adequately roving Staffing for Customer-Driven Organizations Michael and Matt discussed the challenges and inefficiencies in customer-driven organizations, such as restaurants and grocery stores, which experience fluctuating demand. Michael suggested designing the staffing to meet the demand, emphasizing the importance of proper resource allocation to ensure a good customer experience. He also highlighted the potential of this approach to improve efficiency and identify opportunities for the organization. Matt agreed with Michael's assessment and approach. Introducing MoAR for Customizable Reporting Matt introduced the MoAR, a robust reporting tool that allows users to tailor reports according to their specific needs, which can be saved and reused for their companies. Michael appreciated the flexibility of this tool, contrasting it with the inflexible and often problematic Crystal Reports. Matt emphasized the tool's potential in allowing management teams to quickly decide on the most important KPIs to track and share these among the team. The discussion indicated that this tool could be valuable for companies managing consultants, particularly those without an IT department. Bizinta's Real-Time Capabilities and Enhancements Matt and Michael discussed their system's real-time capabilities, emphasizing its potential for immediate data reflection and decision-making. Matt explained that their company, Bizinta, continuously adds features to its platform, including a recent partnership with a payment processor for automatic invoice generation and processing. They also revealed plans to introduce a tasking system similar to Monday.com by year-end to enhance efficiency and customer service. Michael highlighted the importance of real-time information for businesses to make informed decisions and succeed. Integrating Software Systems and Company Culture Michael and Matt discussed the importance and challenges of integrating different software systems and the role of company culture in this process. Michael shared a humorous anecdote about changing error messages to bike bell sounds in a software company, highlighting the significance of a positive work environment.